decluttering

minimalism is a big trend right now. although i'm into the idea of it, i don't think i could ever actually follow it. but i did decide that it was time to clear out my belongings that i no longer needed. i actually used InkWell Press's 28 day challenge.  the 28 day challenge broke down may 1-28th. each day was dedicated to cleaning a specific thing, whether it be specific items of clothing in your closet, or your bathroom drawers. i'm not really following the calendar exactly since it is my goal to clean everything out by the end of summer instead, and i didn't arrive home until partway through may. so far, i have cleaned out my whole room throughly. my next goal is the bathroom and then i will be done for the summer. cleaning out my room was a lot easier than i thought it would be once i got started. here are some tips to make decluttering easier:

1. get in the mood to clean! Put on music, pull your hair back, and really focus on the task at hand. 
2. be honest with yourself. do you really need that item? it can be hard to get rid of things with sentimental value, but too many of these items can lead to clutter. try to look at each item from a practical standpoint. if it does have sentimental value, consider putting the item in a box or using it as decoration.
3. use these questions to help you get rid of items:
1. why do you need this item?
2. is this item useful?
3. do you have a similar item that has the same function?
4. when was the last time you used this item?
5. is it practical to keep this item?
4. organize your clutter. don't just toss all of it. put the items you're getting rid of into three piles: trash, donate, and sell. this will make it easier to get everything out of the house.
5. if it's intimidating, break it down. use something similar to inkwell press's calendar, or set dates yourself. you can even outline out exactly how you want to tackle the mess. once you have a game plan, cleaning up gets a lot easier.
6. don't stress. it's not a big deal if you don't get it all done immediately. it takes time to get rid of belongings and whittle down to what you really need. give yourself time and space to work on this task.
7. keep it clean! once you've decluttered, try to keep it that way. you should now know for the most part what things you own. try to not purchase duplicate items that you don't need. and once you use an item, be sure to return it exactly to its place.

decluttering my room has helped me feel at lot more at peace. my room is a lot more enjoyable now, and is very relaxing to be in. it's also a lot easier for me to focus without a mess and extra items cluttering my living space. even though i (probably) can't achieve minimalism, decluttering has helped me feel at ease.